This 1926 Packard 326 Roadster is among the 15 cars assembled in the “Romance of the Roadster” display at the Saratoga Auto Museum.
photo courtesy Michael Furman

There are a million ways to get from Point A to Point B, but none more romantic than the roadster, that ultimate expression of the three’s-a-crowd philosophy. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Saratoga Automobile Museum in Saratoga, New York, is presenting “The Romance of the Roadster,” a display of 15 two-seaters that range in age from a 1916 Stanley Steamer 726 to a 1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder.

The curator for the exhibit is automotive journalist Ken Gross. “Sure, a two-passenger car is selfish, but it’s eternally sexy,” he said. “Roadsters like these help us relive our favorite memories. They complete our four-wheeled fantasies. They’re universally admired, and as investments, they may just appreciate in value. Let’s face it, you can’t take a preferred stock or a bond out for a glorious Sunday drive. That’s why we want these cars, and we always will.”

Among the roadsters on display will be a 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Zagato, a 1956 Austin-Healey 100M, a 1956 Lancia B24 Aurelia and a 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster. Forget the Whitman’s Sampler this year — this is a box of confections that’s sure to leave a more lasting memory, and doesn’t contain a single calorie. The exhibit runs from February 9 through June 1, 2008. For more information, and directions to the museum, visit www.saratogaautomuseum.org.

(This post originally appeared in the January 31, 2008, issue of the Hemmings eWeekly Newsletter.)